Other Community Impacts

Air pollution is just one of the ways that diesel pollution and the freight transport system behind it affects human health. A host of other factors either directly or indirectly impacts the health and well-being of people living near freight transport facilities and infrastructure. While seaports and airports often have direct connections to and from local highways, trucks often use local streets to bypass traffic or cut down on travel time. Many ports lack sufficient space for drivers to park their trucks, so they often must resort to parking overnight on local streets, reducing pedestrian visibility and an overall sense of safety in a community. Heavy-duty truck traffic on streets designed for passenger car use also increases the risk of collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians—not to mention the wear and tear on these roads that can damage private vehicles. And anyone who has ever heard a truck rumbling along at low speeds can attest to how loud these vehicles can be. The presence of railroad tracks, railyards, truck distribution centers, and large trucks on local streets (whether parked or moving)—and the noise from these vehicles—discourages people from taking walks in their neighborhood or visiting their local parks—both important forms of exercise that help people maintain healthy body weights.